Saints - Solid enough from them. Cashed in on the wind, cashed in on NM not trying in Q1 when they had it. Serious issues stopping the Kangas when they got a run on in the 3rd though and they remain a team that I think is going to have to overachieve significantly again if they're to play finals. To me they're a bottom 6 list so Lyon has a real challenge. Even more so than North, their injuries make all of this a nightmare. Sinclair, Crouch, Windhager, Butler and Clark is probably the 5 names I'd pick to remove if I wanted to make analysing their team impossible, basically all the swingmen and lynchpin types...
Byrnes - Played HB/Wing in first half, went onto the ball in the 2nd half after Phillipou pulled up stumps. He's a tryer, a guy you want in that 20-28 spot on the list.
Bonner - Great role off HB. Example one of the Windhager/Sinclair/Clark (WSM) group making things impossible. He played so well he's there round 1 and Webster further aided (perhaps hinders in role though) the JS. He's at an awfully tempting price for what he could produce, mid only but he's always scored well at Port when playing HB. Plenty of mid options already but he's got 150k in him with a good run.
Owens - Similar role to last year. Sneaky good option after another preseason given how hard he faded last year that can only help. Be a gutsy pick but he's probably in the best few forward options after byes and injuries are factored in. Didn't really do anything special today and yet, 90 is on the board.
Marshall - Smashed in the ruck, couple of blood rules hurt his TOG a bit, still scored solidly. He's a known quantity. Durability is his issue and if it doesn't flare up he's in the top tier of rucks. So good around the ground.
NWM - It felt like he was far more prolific than his actual scores. Another pure WSM question, he's obviously in the best 22 but where are the others playing and how much will they impact his targeting. He's still a really sneaky premium option, especially if Sinclair with the dreaded calf were to miss substantial time, fwiw Sinclair spoke at I think it was 3QT and it sure sounded like r3 was the likely return date.
Wilson - The big takeaway for me in this game. Lock him in if you hadn't already. Elite runner that actually uses it to get to the right places. I dare say he'll have several tackles a game in the real stuff although 10 marks is definitely on the very, very high end of expectations. Played a pure HF role and just works to contests, puts fantastic pressure at ground level, just a whirlwind of a player. Similar physically to Max Holmes only seems to have traded a step of pace (and only a step) for elite endurance to keep doing it over and over. I'm not sold you want to field him as similar to Duursma, his role isn't great in a side that I personally don't think is very good, but he's an excellent bench rookie to potential starter level. This will probably be his top score this season but wouldn't shock me if it wasn't given the workrate that flashed.
Steele - Not as motiony as LDU but pretty motiony also, which makes the score all the more impressive. Most importantly, tape free and moving well. He was already on every radar and don't think he's done that any harm. Lot of value potentially here. I don't love not having Crouch there though as I still think he's lowkey the achilles heel to Steele's scoring, he just snipes enough touches/tackles/etc to lower the floor consistently. His body has been the bigger issue but I don't love that factor.
Schoenmaker - Solid game, playing mostly as a floating defender he did some nice things. The Howard injury definitely opens a door for him albeit in a more lockdown role. I think he's got much better scoring potential than the Reid/Pink types but the JS would be shaky at best, albeit if he can play well enough his kicking is a huge asset over the Howard option who is a liability with the ball. Webster suspension length could also come in to play. Of course the WSM part is also a question.
Henry - Played pure HF. Not fantasy relevant in that role I don't think.
Ross - I don't know who he has pictures of but pure midfield role continues. His AFL career has continued for a solid 4 years longer than it should have. Looks like he will continue to eat a prime fantasy role while not really doing anything at an AFL level. He'd be a really solid VFL depth guy but the fact he's in their starting midfield rotation is just a wow factor.
Wilkie - Such a good player.
Wood - Pure wing. Same as last year.
Stocker - Played HB, feels like he's well behind Bonner and NWM and would be one of the first out for Sinclair.
Phillipou - Love to know why he didn't play the 2nd half, didn't hear anything in the broadcast, but he had an ideal role (pure midfield) and was playing fantastic. Might be a blessing in disguise for the suckers like me that are very strongly considering him as most will exit stage right, now. I thought he was brilliant. The Bont comparison's really are hard to ignore with him the way he combines an extreme left foot with excellent clearance work. Just looked bigger, stronger and more composed and he did that score without really using it all that well, which isn't an area I'm concerned about with him. This is the one where the Crouch, Windhager, Sinclair and Clark questions all come in. He's considerably more talented than all of them except maybe Sinclair but will they get the role ahead of him because he can play elsewhere or do they just go with the best guy and deal with it. I know what I'd do but him only playing a half raises the "we've seen enough, ice him" or "he's not playing there anyway, lets run some others" question. He'd be a really gutsy pick but I reckon he's the highest upside player under 300k in the forwards (except for maybe Sexton who is a total lock anyway). If he got the role, he can go 100+ in it, such is his talent level. God this is a lot for a 42
Garcia - I really liked his game. Nice left boot on him, goes hard at it. Feels like he gets pushed out by all the guys missing first of all, but could be a decent mid season target if he breaks in. There's much safer options even if there round 1, imo. Textbook 7th mid playing as the 5th mid because a couple of guys are missing but showed plenty and looks to have a future.
Howard - Did a hamstring very late, looked the classic 2-4 type.
Webster - Will have a nice holiday for a late bump. Would guess it's a 4+ type. Picking a guy with a bad concussion history just makes it even stupider as the consequences are just elevated.
King - Did some nice things, no where near enough effort level to consider for fantasy purposes. So much talent, I wonder if he's ever going to start to try and extract it.
Collard - Pure forward pocket, terrible role, very punchable head as well. Did very little in a half. Wouldn't expect to see him early on and wouldn't expect him to score well even if we do. Let it go through to the keeper, there's better options.
